Non-bust Blackjack-type video game

ABSTRACT

A wagering game is played with one or more virtual standard decks of playing cards. Each deck comprises a) 52 cards or b) 48 cards without 10&#39;s. The video wagering gaming method comprises: each player placing at least one wager to play in the game against a dealer; each player receiving two initial cards and the dealer receiving two initial cards; each player exercising optional rights to take additional cards, (hits) until the player stands with a point count of 21 or below, or each player exercising optional rights to take additional cards until a point count in a player&#39;s hand exceeds a point count of 21, the player&#39;s hand remaining in-play even after a point count in excess of 21 is obtained; and the dealer taking hits according to conventional rules of blackjack so that the dealer total count according to the rules reaches at least a soft 17, at least a hard 17, or a count in excess of 21; wherein, if both the player&#39;s hand and the dealer&#39;s hand exceed a point count total in excess of 21, rules determine whether the player&#39;s hand wins, ties or loses against the dealer&#39;s hand. Hands of 21 or under always wins over a bust hand. In ties of point counts of 21 and/or below, either convention rules or special rules determine whether the dealer wins or ties the player&#39;s hand. In addition, the player may receive in excess of 3:2 for a blackjack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to video wagering games and particularlyto variations in the play of Blackjack or Twenty-One type games.

[0003] 2. Background of the Art

[0004] Card games have always been popular as wagering games. Thehistory of card games reaches back into biblical eras. One of the mostpopular card games, especially for gambling or gaming uses is the cardgame known as Blackjack (or “21 ”) wherein a blackjack player playsagainst a dealer and the object is to beat the dealer's hand by reachinga total point value closest to 21, without exceeding a point count oftwenty-one and/or by having the dealer's point count exceed twenty-one.The player may exercise strategies including adjusting his point counteither by maintaining his original cards and card count (e.g., referredto as “standing,” not drawing a card that might cause the Blackjackplayer to ‘bust, that is go over 21) and hope that the dealer will bustor by accepting additional cards (referred to as ‘hitting’ or ‘taking ahit’), attempting to receive a cumulative point card total higher (notexceeding a total point count of 21) than the total point count that theDealer will ultimately attain. If both the Blackjack player and thedealer each achieve a point count total that does not exceed 21, thenthe highest total (as between individual players and the dealer) winsthe bet. Blackjack is relatively simple to understand and is usually afaster and easier card game to play than, for example, the game ofPoker, therefore Blackjack, which can be played with the dealer and onlyone Blackjack player, tends to be more popular than the conventionalgame of Poker which needs to be played with several players because eachof the Poker players are competing against each other for one potwhereas each Blackjack player can win against the one dealer. Even withvariants of poker being played in casinos (e.g., Let It Ride® poker,Three Card Poker®, Crazy 4 Poker™, Caribbean Stud® poker, etc.),Blackjack remains the most popular card game in casinos, with many moretables usually dedicated to blackjack than to all other card gamescombined.

[0005] Blackjack must include a dealer (in mechanical,electromechanical, electronic or video versions of the game, a virtualdealer's hand is provided) and there must be at least one Blackjackplayer. One or more Blackjack players playing against the Dealer are, ineffect, individually competing to try to either obtain a better totalcard point count than the point count of the dealer, without exceeding atotal point count in the player's hand of 21 (for the total number ofmultiple playing cards that they the dealer is dealt). The player maystand after receiving a minimum of 2 cards and hope that the Dealer willbust. There are many variants on strategies that are used in the play ofcards that are dependent upon a consideration of the player's cards incomparison with the dealer's cards. There are preferred and optimalstrategies that may be used, with some strategies possibly influenced bycard counting by the player.

[0006] For example, Blackjack players seeing a dealer's exposed card asa 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, will themselves elect to take no hits when theplayer's point count is 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 in the hopes that thedealer's hitting (which is required when the dealer's point count is 16or less) will result in a bust. The objective of the player is that withthe exposed card being generally incapable of having a starting pointcount where the dealer may stand (the exception being a disclosed cardof a 6 and a hole card of an ace), the dealer will take hits to a pointtotal that exceeds 21 and therefore break (or “bust”), allowing theplayer to win the hand. The player will win the bet if the dealer has tohit (the Dealer is required to draw if their point total is 16 or less)and the Dealer busts (goes over 21). Blackjack players also have theoption of splitting any pairs (i.e., a pair of cards of identical pointcount value, such as two face cards, a 10 and a face card, a pair of10s, a pair of 9s, a pair of 3's, etc.). Blackjack players have severaloptions such as to double down (double their bet and receive only onemore card), double their bet when they split a pair of cards, and canreceive a 1.5 times their bet return if they receive an Ace and a 10 orpicture card for their other card. A Blackjack player receiving a cardscore of more than 21 points has a bust hand and automatically loses tothe dealer. If the dealer accumulates cards with a point count in excessof 21, the dealer busts, and every player remaining in the game (thoseplayers who have not busted themselves) wins the hand. The dealer, afterreceiving the first 2 cards begins drawing one or more cards (if thefirst 2 cards are 16 or less), but only after each of the Blackjackplayers at the dealer's table have played their hands to completion.Therefore, the house or casino has the advantage because the Blackjackplayer or players must play and complete their hand first or before thedealer plays or completes his hand. The Blackjack players at the tableindividually play against the dealer. The dealer must receive a minimumof 2 cards and attain a point count of at least 17 before the dealer maystop taking cards. Each of the Blackjack players individually playingagainst the dealer (who is a representative of the house or casino) hasthe option of standing after the receipt of their 2 initial cards. Thismeans that the player will have the options of not receiving any othercards or to draw one or more other cards from the dealer and to continuedrawing cards until the player is either satisfied with their card countscore and stops drawing cards (stands) or the player has busted (goneover the 21 point total). As is known in the Blackjack card game,picture cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) each have a point card value of10 points while Aces have a point card value of either 1 point or 11points. The other cards namely 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s and 10shave a point card value equivalent to their face card value (i.e.,respectively 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10). In most gaming or casinoestablishments, dealers have to draw when they receive a point cardvalue of 16 or less and, in some Casinos or gaming establishments, whenthey receive a point card value of 17 or less where the 17 point cardvalue is based upon using an Ace as an 11 point card value with one ormore other cards (this is known as a soft 17).

[0007] While Blackjack or 21 is a relatively fast-playing popular cardgame, it is always desirable to offer the players opportunities forvariations in the game to maintain their long-term interest. Otherbetting options are desirable for the Blackjack player other than justvarying the size of their wagers. Thus a Blackjack game is needed whichwould permit the Blackjack player to have a chance to win a large bet(as a regular option or an option after losing a number of conventionalbets to the dealer) without the risk of losing a large bet that was theonly previous option to try to promptly recoup a series of lost bets tothe Dealer.

[0008] Attempts have been made to vary the game of Blackjack to arelatively minor degree wherein a Blackjack player could have more thanone betting option other than the Blackjack player's bet to receive ahigher card total not more than the maximum of 21 than the Dealer or tohope that the Dealer busts. However, these other attempts have not beensuccessful because they do not provide a multitude of very excitingbetting options combined with a large jackpot type of payout. U.S. Pat.No. 5,454,570 to Karal discloses a Blackjack card game method therein aBlackjack player has extended wagering opportunities after the Blackjackplayer's hand has reached a desired card count value. Specifically, theBlackjack player can bet on whether the Dealer will achieve a card countthat would be higher (but not greater than 21) than the Blackjackplayer's hand. This supplemental bet or wager by the Blackjack player isprior to the Dealer revealing the Dealer's face down card. Predeterminedodds on the different possible Dealer hand combinations are selected bythe Blackjack player by the selection of the point card value of theDealer's hand. Also, the Blackjack player can wager on the point cardvalue of the Dealer's only face down card. Furthermore, the Blackjackplayer can bet on the point card value of the third Dealer card, etc.The odds presented in this U.S. Patent range from 10 to 1 (on an Acebeing the Dealer down card or the next card to be drawn by the Dealer).Picture cards including 10s have a 2 to 1 betting ratio.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,416 to Schorr et al. also discloses aBlackjack card game method wherein a Blackjack player can bet on theDealer's hand, the Blackjack player's hand or for a tie in the pointcount between the Dealer and the Blackjack player. The bet for the tiepays 9 to 1, the bet for the Blackjack player's hand is even money (1for 1), and the bet on the Dealer's hand is 5 for 6 (five chips can bewon on a 6 chip bet).

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,579 to Griffiths discloses a Blackjack cardgame method wherein a separate bet can be made on whether the dealerobtains exactly 21 or busts. Disclosed therein is a discussion of RoyalMatch 21 involving a separate bet by the Blackjack player to have their2 initial cards be of the same suit (i.e. clubs, diamonds, hearts andspades). A higher payout is for when the Ace and King is received by theBlackjack player in the same suit for the 2 initial cards, but there isno separate bet for the receipt of these two cards (only a payout ifthey happen to be received when a bet is made for the receipt of 2initial cards of the same suit). Also disclosed therein is a referenceto the U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,041 to Jones et al. wherein a separate bet ona blackjack game is made to be eligible for certain specific jackpothands (i.e., four 5s and an Ace or Ace, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six).Simply stated, prior attempts at providing more than one betting optionto the Blackjack player did not give the Blackjack player an opportunityto bet and win a very large bonus (i.e. more than a thousand chips foreach chip bet) as well as to bet on many different possible combinationsthat would pay more than a one chip payback for each one chip bet, butyet still provide the Blackjack player with, if desired, a straight betto beat the dealer.

[0011] Some games have been developed where different payouts areprovided when the differentials between a player's hand and a dealer'shand are within particular limits or ranges (without breaking) as inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,296,251; 6,491,301; and 6,341,778.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,575 describes a variant of Blackjack (21)game, in which a table and method is disclosed wherein a number ofbetting options are provided for the Blackjack player. In addition tothe standard betting option against the dealer, a dealer Bust option, ajackpot option where the Blackjack player can obtain over 1,000 to 1return payout and several other betting options are provided to bet onvarious possible cards such as receiving a 3 or a 6, a 4 or 5, a 10,Jack Queen, King or Ace for one or both of the initial two cards. Themethod of playing Blackjack against a dealer comprises the steps ofproviding a Blackjack player with a jackpot betting option to make a betand have a possibility of winning more than one thousand times the betmade by the Blackjack player; and providing the Blackjack player withadditional separate betting options to make a bet on receiving at leastone card from an initial two cards received by the Blackjack playerequal to one of a 4 and 5, one of a 3 and 6 and a selected one of a 10,a Jack, a Queen, a King and an Ace.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,730 describes a method for a wagering game isachieved by providing a side bet opportunity during the play of aTwenty-One game. The player is given the opportunity to place this sidebet with the hope of receiving winnings when certain predetermined cardconfigurations are received. Upon receipt of these defined cardconfigurations, the player is immediately paid winnings during theprocess of the Twenty-One game. These additional winnings are based onsequences of cards and are independent and separate from wagers in theTwenty-One game. Additionally, all of the predetermined cardconfigurations are preferably chosen such that they will not interferewith the underlying Twenty-One game. As a basis for paying out winnings,it is required that the player consecutively receive these certain cardconfigurations during the play of the Twenty-One game after having madea bet in expectation of those card configurations appearing. Also, thefinal configuration of the Twenty-One hand is irrelevant to the side betgame as the players win immediately when the predeterminedconfigurations are received, long before completion of the hand. Inparticular, the player's receiving of identical value cards in sequenceis awarded bonus amounts when a side wager is placed.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,719 describes a card game that combines theplay of Blackjack (“21”) with a 3-card Poker wager or side bet (“21+3”). Each player places a basic Blackjack wager and an optional 3-cardPoker wager before the cards are dealt. Each player is then dealt a cardwith the dealer receiving a face-up card. Each player is dealt a secondcard. At this point, the outcome of each 3-card Poker hand isdetermined, where a player's 3-card Poker hand consists of the 2-cardhand dealt to that player and the dealer's face-up card. After settlingthe Poker wagers, the game of Blackjack continues in a typical fashion.The invention advantageously retains all the features and advantages ofBlackjack as well as provides the dynamics of 3-card Poker, withoutinterfering with the card sequence, for enhanced player anticipation andenjoyment.

[0015] Over-Under 13 is a side bet game in which a player may place an“over 13” or an “under 13” side bet on a blackjack hand. The player maybet that the player will have an initial two card hand under or over thepoint count of 13. This side bet game is widely used in casinos in theUnited States.

[0016] D.E.Q. Casinos, Ltd. markets a game known as “Luck Jacks &Queens™” which is played in conjunction with a side bet in a standardblackjack game. Regular blackjack rules apply, and an optional side betfor the side game is made. Combinations of a Jack and a Queen on thefirst two cards win a randomly selected prize amount. Suited Queen andJack combinations on the first two cards can win multiples of therandomly selected prize amounts. The random amount is selected anddisplayed on a meter attached to the table. There is no pay table.

[0017] One of the features of Blackjack that greatly affects the abilityof the house to win and the enjoyment of the player is the fact thatplayers take hits first and may bust or break before the dealer has hadto take any cards. This is a significant advantage to the house and isnot an element of the game that provides a favorable anticipation forthe player. A number of described Blackjack games have attempted toadjust this aspect of play in ways that are intended to increase theplayers' enjoyment of the game and increase the players' ability to win.

[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,415 describes a card game and method ofplaying the same played with a fifty six card deck and played to apredetermined unique point total on a table having a playing surface andseveral player stations surrounding said table and a card dealer stationlocated between two of the players, and said dealer does not play hands,in which each station where a player is located initially receives twocards face down with the player adding the value of said cards and eachplayer in rotation to receive one or more cards face up or to stand onthe original cards in an endeavor to reach the point total, each playerplaying against the other of said players and a winning player havingthe point total or a total less than or greater than said point total.

[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,118 describes a method of playing aBlackjack-type wagering game (20) includes a player playing against aplayer-banker wherein the object of the game is to reach a numericaltotal of 20. The winner is (a) the player who has the largest numericaltotal which does not exceed 20, or if both players' totals exceed 20,(2) the player who's numerical total is closest to 20. A “natural” isdefined as either two kings, two queens, two jacks, or two tens on thefirst two cards. In one embodiment, hands which exceed a numerical totalof 20 are ranked by the high card which they contain, rather than bytheir proximity to 20. Game (20) can either be played as a banking ornon-banking game. This game penalizes normal blackjacks, may remove the3:2 payoff for naturals (as the occurrence of two similarly faced10-value cards is greater than the occurrence frequency of blackjacks).

[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,565 describes a method of playing a game ofcards between a dealer and a player, comprising the steps of: (a)providing at least one standard deck of cards; (b) allowing the playerto place a bet; (c) dealing two cards face up to the player and one cardface up to the dealer; (d) paying the player's bet if the player's twocards are a blackjack; (e) dealing additional cards to the player, atthe player's option, until the player does not want any more cards oruntil the player's hand exceeds 21; (f) collecting the player's bet ifthe player's hand exceeds 21; (g) after the player stands, dealingadditional cards to the dealer until the dealer's hand either exceedsthe player's hand or exceeds 21; and (h) collecting the player's bet ifthe dealer exceeds the player's hand but not 21; or paying the player'sbet if the dealer exceeds 21.

[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,828 describes A variation of blackjack isplayed with a standard deck of cards that is augmented by two jokers. Ahand that includes the two jokers is called a natural. The naturaloutranks all other hands. A hand that includes one joker has a totalpoint value of “21”. The player is permitted to hit, double-down,surrender or split a pair unless a face-up card of the dealer is ajoker.

[0022] In spite of the success of some of these card games, there isalways a need to provide additional alternative for players.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] A method of playing a video wagering Blackjack-type game or videoversion of a standard Blackjack-Type game uses a standard deck ofplaying cards (without Jokers, special cards or special wild cards) orwith a Spanish Twenty-One® blackjack deck. The game is a no-bustblackjack game in that play of the game will continue even if the playerbreaks while taking hits in advance of the dealer taking conventionalhits. When both the player and the dealer hands exceed a count of 21,the hand closest to 21 wins the hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] A video wagering game is played according to the standard formatof Blackjack with an additional set of rules. The game should be playedwith a standard playing card deck (52 cards) or multiples of standardplaying cards (that is X times 52), although it may also be played witha Spanish Twenty-One® blackjack game deck, with the 10's removed. Thesignificant change or addition in the rules relates to the play of thegame with respect to events where the player and/or the dealer handexceed a count of 21. A combination or variety of combination of rulesis highly desirable to balance the effect of the rule changes on thehouse hold and the player's likelihood of winning. By balancing therules, the game remains attractive to both the house and the player,usually with the house hold remaining between 0.25% and 6%.

[0025] The basic play of the game follows the general rules ofTwenty-One, except that the player does not automatically lose his betif said player's total goes over 21. If the player hits or doubles downand the total is more than 21, the player keeps his cards (for example,this may be done with the BUST card laid face up beneath the player'sfirst cards) so that the player can still play against the dealer. Ifthe dealer's total ends up as a non-bust hand (i.e., 17, 18, 19, 20 or21) the dealer's hand wins against the player's BUST hand. However, ifthe player and the dealer both bust, the win may be based upon varioussets of rules, such as the hand with the total closest to 21 wins, orthe hand with the lowest BUST card (the last card received that brokethe hand), or the hand with the largest BUST card wins between theplayer and the dealer. The variation is playable at a table or on avideo blackjack machine.

[0026] The variation can be played with all the conventional rules ofBlackjack (excluding the break or bust rules that immediately take ahand out of play when the hand busts), with certain rules being alteredto account for the difference in house advantage. These certain ruleswould be selected from among the payouts on ties, splitting, doubling,the hitting of soft 17 and the payout on a Blackjack hand. The variousrules may vary a) above a count of twenty-one for players and dealers,b) may vary for counts of twenty-one for one or both the player anddealer, and c) may vary for counts below twenty-one for one or both ofthe dealer and player (although it is most preferred to keep rules withcounts of both players and dealer below a count of 21 or with only oneor both player and dealer counts at 21, with variations with blackjacksconsistent with standard Blackjack rules). Examples of the rules thatmay come into play during the No-Bust Twenty-One blackjack are thoseselected from among the group of:

[0027] 1. the dealer may win all ties, including on Blackjacks, or

[0028] 2. the player may win ties in Blackjacks, with or without paymentof odds at 3:2, or

[0029] 3. the dealer may win all ties, excluding Blackjack, or

[0030] 4. the dealer may win all ties of 21 or under only, or

[0031] 5. all ties would be a push (below, at or above a count of 21),or

[0032] 6. the player could split any 2 cards of the same value, or

[0033] 7. the player could split any 2 cards of the same value, except10s, or

[0034] 8. the player could split any 2 matching (6,6 and Q,Q, but notJ,K) cards, or

[0035] 9. the player could split only once, or

[0036] 10. the player could split multiple times, or

[0037] 11. the player could double on any 2 cards, or

[0038] 12. the player could double only on certain 2 cards, or

[0039] 13. the dealer may hit soft 17, or

[0040] 14. the dealer may stand on soft 17, or

[0041] 15. the player's Blackjack may pay up to 3-to-1, or

[0042] 16. the player may insure his Blackjack for a percentage of theoriginal wager, or

[0043] 17. the insurance payout on the player's Blackjack would be lessthan the Blackjack payout (e.g., insurance is a payout of 2:1, while thepayout on Blackjack may be 3:1 or 5:2).

[0044] The game may be generally described as a method of playing awagering game with one or more standard decks of playing cards. Eachdeck preferably comprises a) 52 cards or b) 48 cards without 10's. Themethod comprises each player placing at least one wager to play in thegame against a dealer; each player receiving two initial cards and thedealer receiving two initial cards; each player optionally exercising aright to take additional cards whilel the player's hand has a pointcount of 21 or below 21, each player having the option to exercise theoptional right to take additional cards until a point count in aplayer's hand exceeds a point count of 21, the player's hand remainingin-play even after a point count in excess of 21 is obtained; the dealertaking hits according to conventional rules of blackjack so that thedealer total count according to the rules reaches at least a soft 17, atleast a hard 17, or a count in excess of 21; and wherein, if both theplayer's hand and the dealer's hand exceed a point count total in excessof 21, rules determine whether the player's hand wins, ties or losesagainst the dealer's hand. The method preferably may be played withstandard playing card decks of 52 cards, without jokers or wild cards.The dealer, according to preferred rules, must take hits with 16 orfewer points or a soft seventeen. Alternatively the dealer must takehits with 16 or fewer points and stay with a soft seventeen. The rulesthat determine whether a players hand wins, ties or loses with a countof both the player's hand and the dealer's hand above 21 may includethat the player's hand wins when the player's hand count is closer to 21then the dealer's hand count. Odds or bonuses may be paid according tothe relative difference between 21 of the player's hand and the dealer'shand, or between point counts of the player's hand and the dealer'shand, an example of which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,778. The rulesthat determine whether a players hand wins, ties or loses with a countof both the player's hand and the dealer's hand above 21 may includethat the dealer wins when player's hand count and dealer's hand countare equal, or that the player wins when the player's hand count and thedealer's hand count are equal. Alternatively, or additionally, the rulesthat determine whether a players hand wins, ties or loses with a countof both the player's hand and the dealer's hand above 21 may includethat the player and dealer tie when the player's hand count and thedealer's hand count are equal.

[0045] An alternative method of play provides rules that determinewhether a players hand wins, ties or loses with a count of both theplayer's hand and the dealer's hand above 21 including that when boththe player's hand and dealer's hand are equal in count, the hand thatreceived the smaller value card to cause that hand to bust wins, or thatthe hand that received the larger value card to cause the hand to bustwins. Because of changes in other advantages and disadvantages in oddsand house hold, it is an option for the player to receive in excess of3:2 for a blackjack, e.g., 2:1, or 5:2 or 3:1. Other optional rules inthe play of the game include the dealer winning all ties when both theplayer's hand and the dealer's hand are each above a count of 21, andwherein the player and the dealer tie when the point count of player'shand and dealer's hand are equal and over 21, or wherein less than allof the at least one wager is returned to the player when the point countof player's hand and dealer's hand are equal and over 21. It is possibleto require that two equal wagers are placed at the beginning of the gameand one wager is returned when the point count of player's hand anddealer's hand are equal and over 21, the wagers otherwise being treatedas a single wager in the play of other elements of the game. There islittle rational advantage for the player to take hits when the player'shand point count is twenty-one or higher (even doubling down), so theplayer should have the option of taking additional cards only when theplayer's total point count is less than 21. The player may double downon any first two cards in the player's hand, or even on any first threecards

[0046] The game is played on standard video wagering apparatuscomprising at least a housing, wager acceptor, player controls (e.g.,card selection, wager control, and the like), video monitor (e.g., CRT,plasma screen, LED display, liquid crystal display, flat screen curvedscreen and the like), processor or connection to a processor, hardware,software, power source, and the like. The underlying structure of thesystem of the invention is well understood in the art, with millions ofvideo gaming equipment available worldwide, and numerous manufacturersand programmers available in the industry. Conventional blackjack videogaming equipment need only be programmed with alternative software thatenables the rules of the game, which is well within the skill of theartisan in the gaming software industry.

EXAMPLES

[0047] Examples of play of hands according to one variant of the play ofNo-Bust Blackjack according to the various rules available to play ofthe game would be as follows. Examples will be given that involveunusual events in the play of the game, with the standard rules of playfor hand equal to or under counts of 21 remaining the same: 10 and 7 10and 6 Dealer Stands Player hits with a 6 Dealer stands and wins Playerbusts and loses

Example 2

[0048] 10 and 6 10 and 6 Dealer Hits with 6 Player hits with a 6 Dealerbusts and ties Player busts and ties or loses

Example 3

[0049] 10 and 3 10 and 4 Dealer hits with 10 Player hits with an 8Dealer busts and loses Player busts and wins

Example 4

[0050] 10 and 5 10 and 6 Dealer hits with a 7 Player hits with a 9Dealer busts and wins Player busts and loses

Example 5

[0051] 8 and 8 7 and 7 Dealer hits with an 8 Player hits with a 10Dealer busts and loses Player busts and wins

Example 6

[0052] 8 and 8 7 and 7 Dealer hits with a 6 (22) Player splits, hitswith a 10 and 8 Dealer loses 1, wins 1 hand Stays with 17, hits 15 witha 9 (24)

Example 7

[0053] Ace and 6 10 and 4 Hits thrice with 6 and 3 and 7 Hits with 9

[0054] Player wins if player wins ties, player loses if ties go todealer, ties if equal counts over 21 tie.

[0055] It is preferred that payouts for wins and losses remain asstandard payouts, as opposed to payouts based upon the absolutedifference between player hands and dealer hands (as taught in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,296,251; 6,491,301; and 6,341,778), although side wagers may beused that incorporate multiple payouts or bonuses as are known in theblackjack and casino table game art. In a preferred method of play, thedealer would win all ties of 21 and under. Ties of Blackjack and handsof 22 and over would be a push. If the player and the dealer both goover 21 (with different point count hands), then the hand with a pointcount closer to 21 wins. The player's Blackjack would pay 5-to-2 or theplayer may opt to “insure” his Blackjack with an additional wager of 50%of the player's bet for an automatic 3-to-2 payout.

[0056] These and other aspects of the invention may be varied within theparameter of play described herein, using obvious or alternative gamestructures as are within the skill of the ordinary artisan in the tablegaming industry. For example, with bonus events, bet sensors or betacceptors may be used. With progressive jackpots, jackpot monitors maybe provided. These changes and known variations in the play ofblackjack-type wagering games are contemplated in the practice of thisinvention.

What is claimed:
 1. A method of playing a video wagering game with oneor more virtual standard decks of playing cards, each deck comprising a)52 cards or b) 48 cards without 10's, the method comprising: each playerplacing at least one wager to play in the game against a dealer having adealer hand; each player receiving two initial cards and the dealerreceiving two initial cards; each player having the option to exercisean optional right to take additional cards until a point count in aplayer's hand exceeds a point count of 21, the player's hand remainingin-play even after a point count in excess of 21 is obtained; the dealertaking hits according to conventional rules of blackjack so that thedealer total count according to the rules reaches at least a soft 17, atleast a hard 17, or a count in excess of 21; wherein, if both theplayer's hand and the dealer's hand exceed a point count total in excessof 21, rules determine whether the player's hand wins, ties or losesagainst the dealer's hand.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the game isplayed with a virtual standard playing card decks of 52 cards, withoutjokers or wild cards.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the dealer musttake hits with 16 or fewer points or a soft seventeen.
 4. The method ofclaim 2 wherein the dealer must take hits with 16 or fewer points andstay with a soft seventeen.
 5. The method of claim 2 wherein the rulesthat determine whether a players hand wins, ties or loses with a countof both the player's hand and the dealer's hand above 21 include thatthe player's hand wins when the player's hand count is closer to 21 thenthe dealer's hand count.
 6. The method of claim 2 wherein the rules thatdetermine whether a players hand wins, ties or loses with a count ofboth the player's hand and the dealer's hand above 21 include that thedealer wins when player's hand count and dealer's hand count are equal.7. The method of claim 2 wherein the rules that determine whether aplayers hand wins, ties or loses with a count of both the player's handand the dealer's hand above 21 include that the player wins when theplayer's hand count and the dealer's hand count are equal.
 8. The methodof claim 2 wherein the rules that determine whether a players hand wins,ties or loses with a count of both the player's hand and the dealer'shand above 21 include that the player and dealer tie when the player'shand count and the dealer's hand count are equal.
 9. The method of claim2 wherein the rules that determine whether a players hand wins, ties orloses with a count of both the player's hand and the dealer's hand above21 include that when both the player's hand and dealer's hand are equalin count, the hand that received the larger value card to cause thathand to bust wins.
 10. The method of claim 2 wherein the rules thatdetermine whether a players hand wins, ties or loses with a count ofboth the player's hand and the dealer's hand above 21 include that whenboth the player's hand and dealer's hand are equal in count, the handthat received the smaller value card to cause that hand to bust wins.11. The method of claim 2 wherein the player receives in excess of 3:2for a blackjack.
 12. The method of claim 2 wherein the dealer wins allties when both the player's hand and the dealer's hand are each above acount of
 21. 13. The method of claim 2 wherein the player and the dealertie when the point count of player's hand and dealer's hand are equaland over
 21. 14. The method of claim 2 wherein less than all of the atleast one wager is returned to the player when the point count ofplayer's hand and dealer's hand are equal and over
 21. 15. The method ofclaim 14 wherein two equal wagers are placed at the beginning of thegame and one wager is returned when the point count of player's hand anddealer's hand are equal and over
 21. 16. The method of claim 1 whereinthe player has the option of taking additional cards only when theplayer's total point count is less than
 21. 17. The method of claim 16wherein the player may double down on any first two cards in theplayer's hand.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the player may doubledown on any first three cards in the player's hand.
 19. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the player has the option to split two like-valuedinitial cards into two new hands.
 20. The method of claim 1 wherein theplayer has the option to “surrender” his first two cards in return for50% of the wager.
 21. A video gaming apparatus having communication withsoftware that enables the apparatus to practice the method of claim 1.